Strong growth for European cablers

Strong growth for European cablers

Revenues in the European cable industry jumped more than 7% last year to €18.2 billion. Demand for digital television, internet broadband and telephony services grew sharply from 41 million subscriptions in 2007 to 51 million in 2008. Including the 43 million customers who watch analogue cable TV, the total number of subscriptions grew to 94 million, according to new figures published by Cable Europe.

The figures, compiled for Cable Europe by Screen Digest, showed that total cable industry revenues in Europe rose to €18.2 billion in 2008, compared with €16.96 billion in the previous year and more than double the €8.2 billion total recorded at the start of the decade. Cable now accounts for 58% of all pay-TV homes in Europe.

Of Europe’s largest markets, particularly strong growth was reported in Germany, The Netherlands and the UK, matched by consistently healthy demand in Central and Eastern Europe. A more detailed overview of the Cable Industry’s 2008 data will be given at the Cable Congress. As the official online publication of the event, Broadband TV News reporters will file news updates as they happen at the Congress.